{"id":862,"date":"2008-10-09T12:26:49","date_gmt":"2008-10-09T12:26:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/2008\/10\/encourage_your_pastor.shtml"},"modified":"2021-05-29T02:44:46","modified_gmt":"2021-05-29T02:44:46","slug":"encourage_your_pastor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/2008\/10\/encourage_your_pastor.shtml","title":{"rendered":"Encourage Your Pastor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saw this<\/a> on Jared’s most excellent blog<\/a> (which will definitely get a link once I get my blogroll issues sorted out) last night. He lists some sad facts on what the burdens of ministry are doing to pastors. They’re leaving the ministry, they feel inadequate, they’re depressed and burdened.
\nThink about it. They’re the one that gets called when a marriage is in crisis. They’re the one that gets called when a member is sick or dying. They’re the one that gets called when someone doesn’t like what’s going on. They’re the one that gets called when someone is in sin. They have to deal with the demons in the church<\/a>. They’re the one that deals with all of those messes and more.
\nHow often do you call or email just to encourage? Just to say that you support them and their work? Not because they did something specific that moved or impacted you (by all means, call then too), but just because?
\nA good friend of mine stepped into the role of minister, temporarily, after theirs resigned. He and another brother decided to fill that role for the short time while they searched for a replacement. A short time turned into about 2 years, I think. Shortly after they finally hired someone new and he could step back, his comment was “I am so grateful for the folks we hired over the years to deal with that mess so I didn’t have to.” A little negative view, sure, but revealing as to what your minister deals with on a regular basis.
\nIn the history of this blog, I’ve been critical of my denomination (I bet they hate me saying that, but that’s what we are) and of my local church fairly often. I’ve been critical of my minister specifically at times as well. What I haven’t done enough of, is tell you how much we are blessed to have Doug Geyer lead us. Is he flawed? Of course, but he’s also humble, determined, and passionate about the church. He doesn’t feed us what we want, he gives us what we need. He points us to God and illuminates His Son to us. He longs to grow and to see us grow. He makes me think and stretches me spiritually. I’m grateful that he’s there.
\nYour pastor deals with the bad stuff. The least<\/em> you can do is hold up his arms a bit. Call him. Encourage him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saw this on Jared’s most excellent blog (which will definitely get a link once I get my blogroll issues sorted out) last night. 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